2005 Guide to Home Repair: 99 Experts in Repair

Is the leather on your favorite chair cracked? Can't get a stubborn stain out of a carpet? Have you accidentally scratched your antique dining table?

Washington is a great place to get prized possessions repaired. The area's museums, historic homes, and government buildings keep a cadre of fix-it pros in business.

"It's a mecca," says Christine Smith, owner of Conservation of Art on Paper in Alexandria. Smith says this is a "conservation-friendly" place because well-educated Washingtonians value works of art and historicobjects.

Restorers and conservators can work magic, bringing back to life possessions that seemed lost causes.

"We've had holes as large as 18 inches across that we have put back together," says Nancy Preston, owner of Vienna Quilt Shop. One new bride called shortly before her mother-in-law's impending visit. The couple's puppy had chewed up the quilt the mother had made as a wedding present. Preston repaired it in time.

Ceramics experts can reassemble shattered porcelain so well that you won't see any lines in it. Textile conservators can make your grandmother's stained linens look good on your table again. Chandelier pros can help antique pieces sparkle and shed new light.

Some firms do work that can save you money, like getting the stain out of a sofa. Other repairs–like conserving a vintage photograph or your aunt's amateur oil painting–might cost more than the actual object but make sense for sentimental reasons.

Conservators, a highly trained class of repair experts, specialize in objects with historic or artistic value. Their work can be very technical, requiring microscopes, for example, to examine particles of paint. They are bound by a code of ethics that requires treatments appropriate to the work, whether remaining true to the artist's original intention or preserving a piece's historic condition rather than making it look new.

For more information about conservation, contact the Washington Conservation Guild (palimpsest.stanford.edu/wcg) or the American Institute of Conservation (aic.stanford.edu). Both have information, advice, and other resources on their Web sites.

The repair firms listed here have good reputations. Many were recommended by museum curators, interior designers, architects, antique shops, and specialty stores.

Still, you should ask questions before hiring anyone. For valuable objects, request a copy of the conservator's résumé and documentation of the work he or she plans. Talk to previous customers about the quality of the work.

Unless located in stores, most of these professionals meet with customers by appointment only.

Nick Greer Antique Conservator, 37627 Allder School Rd., Purcellville; 540-338-6607. Specializes in museum-quality 18th-century furniture but does work on some earlier and later pieces. The National Gallery of Art and Dumbarton Oaks are clients. Greer comes to Washington on Fridays for pickups and deliveries.

For more recommendations, see the listings under "Wood Furniture" and "Gilding."

Books, Paintings, Photos, and Other Works on Paper

Albro Conservation, Arlington; 703-892-6738. Thomas Albro is the retired head of book conservation at the Library of Congress. He restores rare books and offers classes in bookbinding.

Cleveland Conservation of Art on Paper, Beltsville; 301-210-3731; conservationofpaper.com. Rachel-Ray Cleveland restores fine art on paper and archival documents. She's worked for the White House, the National Portrait Gallery, the Holocaust Museum, and many private collectors.

Nishio Conservation Studio, 2428 17th St., NW; 202-234-0550. Conservation of fine paintings, often for major American and European museums.

The Old Print Gallery, 1220 31st St., NW; 202-965-1818; oldprintgallery.com. This shop not only sells prints and maps but conserves maps, prints, drawings, watercolors, and other documents on loose paper.

Angela Scott, 414 Seventh St., SE; 202-547-7945. Specializes in conservation of rare books as well as rebinding. She's been refurbishing books since 1975 and has done work for the Smithsonian and National Galleryof Art.

Judith Tartt, Dupont Circle; 202-588-0271; art-care.com. Tartt is the painting conservator at the Kreeger Museum and has done work at theUS House of Representatives.

Alexandra Tice, Chevy Chase; 301-986-1296. Tice has been conserving oil paintings for 27 years and specializes in 18th- through early 20th-century works. She has worked on all of the paint-ings at George Washington's Mount Vernon.

Sarah S. Wagner, Silver Spring; 301-587-5569. Highly recommended by conservatorsat the Library of Congress, Wagner is an expert in photograph conservation. She does work for institutions such as the National Gallery of Art and the Corcoran as well as for individuals.

Glass and Crystal Restoration Center, 10 Overpund Ct., Potomac; 301-340-2624. Giovanni Nason was a glassmaker in Italy before coming to America. He can repair chipped glass and crystal and make shattered china look new. He also repairs mirrors, chandeliers, and ivory but does not work on stained glass.

Chevy Chase Plating and Polishing, 12131 Nebel St., Rockville; 301-913-5727; chevychaseplating.com. This repair shop for fine metals also fixes lamps and light fixtures, including rewiring and conversion from European voltage.

Crenshaw Lighting, 592 Paradise La., Floyd, Va.; 540-745-3900; crenshawlighting.com. This custom lighting manufacturer is the one to call for historic and very-high-end chandeliers and fixtures. Clients send a photograph to determine whether the project is right for Crenshaw before the company sends someone from Floyd, near the North Carolina border.

David Toran Chandelier Services, Northwest DC; 202-328-9309; chandelierservices.com. Provides in-home maintenance, rewiring, and restoration of fine metal and crystal chandeliers. Also does packing and transportation. Toran has worked for the Mayflower Hotel and the Kennedy Center.

Gaylords Lamps and Shades, 4620 Leland St., Chevy Chase; 301-986-9680. In business since 1953, Gaylords not only builds new custom lamps but can repair, refinish, and rewire all types of lamps except halogens and chandeliers. Also relines and recovers shades.

Clocks

These shops make house calls for large clocks.

Clock Shop of Vienna, 109 Church St., NW, Vienna; 703-938-3990. Restores the inner mechanisms of just about any kind of clock but does not work on cabinetry.

D.L. Boyd, 5905 Arbor St., Hyattsville; 301-773-6767. Specializes in plaster, including historic restorations and texturing. Also works on stucco and tile.

Lenore Winters Studio, 4911 Cordell Ave., Bethesda; 301-654-6004. Paints murals and furniture. Also does original decorative and faux painting. Can disguise damage in wood, marble, and other materials.

Drapery

Christopher's, 2931-E Eskridge Rd., Fairfax; 800-787-5885; christophersinc.net. This company specializes in treating textiles to protect them from stains and wear but also does on-site drapery cleaning and removal of spots.

Floors

Brothers & Justice, 8453-R Tyco Rd., Vienna; 703-883-0644; brothersandjusticefloors.com. Does major repairs on hardwood floors as well as sanding and finishing.

Classic Floor Designs, 2120 L St., NW; 202-872-9860. Classic can repair a variety of flooring including carpet, wood, stone, and tile. It also refinishes wood floors and uses a dustless system for resanding.

Universal Floors, 4625 41st St., NW; 202-537-8900; universalfloors.com. The Lynn family has been in business for more than 50 years. They restore old floors and fix new installations gone awry.

Gilding

Gold Leaf Studios, 1523 22nd St. courtyard, NW; 202-833-2440; goldleafstudios.com. Bill Adair and his staff repair, restore, and create frames and other gilded objects. They've worked for the National Portrait Gallery and the State Department.

William A. Lewin Conservator, 1637 E. Baltimore St., Baltimore; 410-675-2764. Experts in conserving gilded finishes, especially frames. This firm is working on the frames in the US Capitol rotunda but takes on humbler projects as well. It also restores gilded and lacquered furniture and does structural repairs.

Anna Grishkova, Northwest DC; 202-667-0441 ext. 43. A conservator at the Textile Museum, Grishkova is the person to call for work on historic textiles. She helps clients choose the right conservation treatments for quilts, uniforms, flags, and other historic pieces. She also prepares textiles for mounting and consults with clients on storage and display.

Mantels, Molding, and ArchitecturalElements

Giannetti's Studio, 3806 38th St., Brentwood; 301-927-0033. Repair of moldings, columns, and other architectural elements. Giannetti's has worked for the Renwick Gallery, National Building Museum, and the Library of Congress.

The Stripping Workshop, 411 New York Ave., NE; 202-544-1470. In business for 30 years, this company specializes in refinishing woodwork.

Coventry Silversmith, 228 S. Washington St., Alexandria; 703-684-6821. For 78 years, Coventry has specialized in repairing and refinishing sterling, copper, brass, and pewter. It also does silver and gold plating and restores older pieces.

Equestrian Forge, 222 S. King St., Leesburg; 703-777-2110. This shop, which repaired the hardware on the doors to the Old Executive Office Building, does all kinds of fine metal conservation, including sculptures and antique wall sconces. Can also make replicas of just about anything.

Flaherty Iron Works, 5416 Vine St., Alexandria; 703-971-7653; flahertyironworks.com. Although Flaherty specializes in wrought iron, the company also works on aluminum, stainless steel, and brass.

Outdoor Furniture and Awnings

Bethesda Shade and Awning, 19201 Orbit Dr., Gaithersburg; 301-670-4655; bethesdashadeandawning.com. In business for 50 years, this company–which repairs and cleans outdoor awnings–counts the federal government and foreign embassies among its clients.

Color Your Carpet, 11382 Old Hopkins Rd., Clarksville; 301-776-2393; colorcarpet.com. This company can dye faded or stained wall-to-wall carpeting to match its original shade or dye it a different color. It also offers color restoration of patterned rugs.

David Zahirpour Oriental Rugs, 4922 Wisconsin Ave., NW; 202-338-4141; dcorientalrug.com. Experts in restoring all types of handmade rugs. This firm can repair holes and fraying to match the original. Cleaning is done by hand with pure soaps. Clients include the White House, Smithsonian, and State Department.

Tile

American Tub and Tile, 4949 Beech Rd., Temple Hills; americantubandtile.com. This company can repair chips in bathroom tile and fixtures, recaulk, fix fiberglass and acrylic, or change the color of tile through re-glazing.

D.L. Boyd, 5905 Arbor St., Hyattsville; 301-773-6767. Specializes in plaster but also does tile repairs, including recaulking and regrouting.

Select Kitchen and Bath, 7311 Highland St., Space 9D, Springfield; 703-866-4224; selectkitchenandbath.com. This remodeling company specializes in ceramic-tile repairs, including holes left by plumbers and cracked tile. Also repairs grout, plaster, and drywall and can reattach loose cabinets. No tub refinishing.

Upholstery

Cannon Upholstery, 4901 Hampden La., Bethesda; 301-654-0090; cannonupholstery.com. Reupholsteryof furniture and walls as well as repairs, frame regluing, and caning. Pickup and delivery available for a fee.

Christopher's, 2931-E Eskridge Rd., Fairfax; 800-787-5885; christophersinc.net. This company specializes in treating textiles to protect them from stains and wear but also does on-site upholstery cleaning and spot removal.

Dural Cleaning Fabric Specialists, 2408 Minnesota Ave., SE; 202-581-3800. Carpet and furniture cleaning in the Washington area for 43 years.

José Gonçalves Company, 4808 Lee Hwy., Arlington; 703-528-5272. Specializes in reupholstering furniture, whether antique or contemporary. Has done work for the White House and private collectors all over the nation.

Morrison's Chair Caning, 18740 Blue Violet La., Gaithersburg; 301-948-5130; morrisonschairs.com. This company can restore most types of woven chair seats. It's been in business for 25 years and will work on chairs or stools, antique to modern.

Georgetown Refinishing, 1819 14th St., NW; 202-333-3311. Refinishes and repairs all wood furniture, new or antique. Recommended by local furniture and antiques stores.

Joseph's Refinishing and Upholstery, 9176 Red Branch Rd., Columbia; 410-997-5550. Restores and repairs old and new furniture, particularly pieces damaged in fires. Has worked for the Federal Reserve and the National Gallery of Art.